Category Archives: Interesting Insect Facts

Ants are a common sight outdoors in summer, but when it gets cold outside, you might notice that there aren’t any around. Where do these insects go during winter? Our pest control Wall NJ experts want you to know more about how outdoor ants spend the winter months.

Outdoor Temperatures Affect Body Temperature

When the temperature drops outside in winter, the body temperature of ants also decreases. This decrease causes ants to become sluggish and not move around much. That’s why you don’t really see any ants crawling around when it gets cold out. So, where do they go when they’re unable to move much?

Warm Winter Habitat

Ants make sure they find somewhere warm to go before cold weather hits. This might be deep in the soil, tucked away inside their nests for the season. During winter, the entrances to ant nests remain closed, since there’s no movement going on. The ants inside the nest are able to safely spend the winter months in there without food, since they fill up on it during fall. This allows them to go the entire season without searching for any food. In spring, they emerge from their nest again to forage.

If you have ants inside your home this winter, contact Allison Pest Control for help. Our pest control Wall NJ services can help you eliminate these pests from your home this season.

Ants Actions Correlate with Weather. When it’s Wet Outside, you May get Some Unwelcome Visitors!

Many species of ants in NJ do just fine living outdoors and building nests in the ground or in other areas outside. However, rainy weather can force these pests to enter residential buildings. Find out more about the connection between an increase in rainy weather and a higher chance of having an indoor ant problem for our Monmouth County pest control technicians to handle.

Warmth and Shelter

Rainy weather during fall can end up destroying ant nests in the ground. In some cases, heavy rains can flood tunnels that ants have built in their colonies, which causes them to look elsewhere for a warm, dry place to stay during the winter months. One of the easiest places for ants to go is inside homes, since they can fit through even the smallest gaps and other openings in a home’s exterior.

Food Sources

An increase in rain can also make it harder for ants to find food in their usual outdoor spots. When ants have difficulty locating food, they tend to head indoors where they can easily find crumbs and other food sources in kitchens, cupboards and pantries. If they find plenty of food sources, they’re likely to settle in.

If you have an ant problem this winter, you can count on our Monmouth County pest control technicians for help. Call Allison Pest Control to get more information on our services for NJ homeowners.

November is the time when it’s common to see stink bugs on home exteriors throughout NJ. These invasive bugs group together in fall and search for sheltered areas to stay during winter. Although they don’t cause damage, they do emit a foul odor when they’re handled or crushed. You can rely on Monmouth County pest control to eliminate them or try one of these methods:

DIY Traps for Stink Bugs

If you have stink bugs on your home or inside it, you can try using a homemade trap to catch them without squashing them. All you have to do is place a roasting pan filled with water and dish soap in a dark room or area, and shine a light over it to attract them. The stink bugs should end up going into the pan, where they’re unlikely to survive.

Vacuuming Stink Bugs

Homemade traps aren’t always foolproof ways to trap stink bugs. If this doesn’t work, you can try to vacuum them up, then dump the bag in the garbage when you’re done. Vacuuming keeps the bugs intact, so they won’t produce their unpleasant odor. Just remember to empty the bag right afterwards, so the smell won’t stick around.

When homemade traps don’t work, count on Monmouth County pest control experts to help you get rid of stink bugs. Contact Allison Pest Control if you need stink bugs removed from your home this fall.

Centipedes are pests that are pretty common to the State of New Jersey. You may come across them in your home, but don’t be too alarmed. It is possible for centipedes to bite, but again, there isn’t much that you need to be concerned about. However, you should know what to do if you do experience one of their bites. You also need to know when to contact NJ pest control services.

Do Centipedes Bite or Sting?

An injury from a centipede isn’t really an actual bite, although almost everyone calls it one. The parts of the centipede that pierce the skin are called the forcipules. They are more like the front legs of the insect, and not parts of the mouth. Still, these appendages do inject venom.

Fortunately, in most cases, a centipede’s bite isn’t dangerous at all. You may encounter some swelling and pain, but allergic reactions are pretty rare.

Symptoms of a Centipede Bite

Symptoms of a centipede bite include:

• Pain at the bite site

• Itching at the bite site

• Redness and swelling

• A headache

• A racing pulse

If you have a centipede problem in your home, contacting NJ pest control services is a wise move. This is especially true if you have small children at home or family members with allergies. In those cases, their reactions might be worse.

If you have carpenter bees buzzing around your home, is it time to call Ocean County NJ pest control companies for help? Some people consider these bees pests that destroy wood, while others mainly consider them pollinators that help support our food supplies.

Carpenter Bees as Pests

Carpenter bees make nests by boring holes in wooden structures, including home exteriors. This can create an unsightly appearance, especially if these bees also leave excrement near these holes. Since carpenter bees sometimes keep using the same holes for their nests each year, these holes can become larger and more noticeable. However, carpenter bees rarely cause enough damage to weaken your home’s structures.

Carpenter Bees as Pollinators

Carpenter bees do their share of pollinating just as honey bees and bumble bees do. Thanks to their ability to carry pollen, they help ensure that native plants, crops, and gardens produce fruits and vegetables. They also help support sources of food for wildlife by spreading pollen to wild plants.

Do these benefits outweigh their tendency to bore holes in home exteriors? Bee experts think so, although they encourage homeowners to take steps toward protecting their homes from these insects.

If you have carpenter bees boring holes in your home, contact Allison Pest Control. As one of the leading Ocean County NJ pest control companies, we can get rid of these wood-destroying bees for you.

You can’t spend an evening outside in NJ when it’s warm out without getting at least one mosquito bite, and that’s no surprise. NJ really does have 63 different mosquito species, which gives NJ pest control services plenty to do in summer.

62 Residents, 1 Visitor

Sixty-two of the mosquito species sampled in NJ are resident species that stick around during the winter months. Only one species, Aedes aegypti, goes elsewhere when the temperatures drop in NJ. This is good news since this species is responsible for spreading yellow fever, dengue, and other infectious diseases.

Differences in Distribution

Although you’ll find 63 different species in NJ, they’re not evenly distributed. In fact, only some of these species are found all over the state. Several species have a very limited distribution and are only found in a few parts of the state. That still leaves quite a few species that are around to bite throughout the summer months.

Since certain species can spread West Nile virus and other diseases, it’s important to keep their populations to a minimum. You can do your part by getting rid of standing water in your yard, so mosquitoes have fewer places to breed and build their populations.

If you need dependable NJ pest control services for a mosquito infestation, give Allison Pest Control a call. We offer reliable pest control in Monmouth and Ocean Counties.